Statoil and partners strike oil off Brazil

April 18 (Reuters) - Energy company Statoil and
partners Repsol Sinopec Brasil and Petrobras have
struck oil off the coast of Brazil, in a deepwater offshore area
called the Campos Basin, the Norwegian firm said on Monday.

The appraisal well encountered a 175-meters hydrocarbon
column and produced around 16 million standard cubic feet of gas
and 4,000 barrels per day of oil, Statoil said.

Repsol Sinopec Brasil is currently the operator with a stake
of 35 percent, but Statoil will take over as operator in the
third quarter. It has a stake of 35 percent, while Petrobras
holds the remaining 30 percent.